viB NATURAL ft I ST O R Y of IVOR WA T. 



have one of thefe in my colle&ion ; it has a' ronghnefs on the 

 head, fomething like a file, with which Tome people are fo 

 Umple as to imagine, that this little diminutive creature can per- 

 form the extraordinary operation mentioned above. 



The learned jefuit Gafp. Schottus, in his Phylica Curiofa, 

 cap. xiv. has thoroughly examined into the nature and proba- 

 bility of this account ; and has confuted the learned Kircher 

 entirely in this point. Among other reafons that are given for a 

 fhip's being ftopt in her courle in the middle of the lea, tho' 

 under full fail with a good wind, which is an undeniable fadr, he 

 reckons the conflux of rivers from feveral places ftruggling toge- 

 ther to be one caule. This opinion has fome probability, and 

 that ftrange effecl: is really owing to this caule in iome places : 

 but be it as it will, I am apt to think that the Kors-Trold, or 

 Soe-Drawl, fo much talked of by the failors, and which they, 

 reckon an evil fpirit, can be no other than the Kraken, which, 

 according to the defcription given above, leems to be able with 

 its arms, or horns, to bring about this ftrange effect.. Hence, 

 perhaps, it is called, among many other names, by that of 

 Anker-Trold ; tho' I do not in the lean: infill: upon this con- 

 jecture being true, but willingly fubmit my fuppofitions in 

 this, and every other dubious matter, to the judgment of thole 

 that are better experienced. If I was an admirer of uncertain 

 reports, and fabulous (lories, I might here add much more con- 

 cerning this and other Norvegian Sea-monfters, whole exiftence I 

 will not take upon me to deny ; but do not chufe, by a mixture 

 of uncertain relations, to make fuch accounts appear doubtful, as 

 I myfelf believe to be true and well attefted, I fhall there- 

 fore quit the fubjecl: here, and leave it to future writers on this 

 plan, to complete what I have imperfectly fketched out, by 

 further experience, which is always the bell: inftru&or. 



CHAP- 



